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A life spent in the outdoors is rich with totems, heirlooms, lasting friendships, and life lessons. Here, the writers of Field & Stream share their best tales about the outdoors that have meant most to them. Hear about a secret fishing spot that helped nurture Joe Cermele’s obsession with striped bass; a beloved knife that has bounced between Field & Stream staffers before landing in Dave Hurteau’s sheath; Bill Heavey’s birthday rod and reel; Natalie Krebs’ unforgettable squirrel hunt with her grandfather; the head of a western diamondback snake that was ironically gifted to David E. Petzal; and more. Editor-in-Chief Colin Kearns writes: “This issue is full of stories about gifts—all of which share two common traits: They are rooted in the wild, and they’ll all continue to get better with age.”